Origin

This character appears to combine big or great (the top component) with altar or divine indication (the bottom component). The exact meaning connection is unclear and may reflect an obsolete or specialized usage from Chinese. The character is most commonly used today as a place name for the Japanese city Nara, where its original meaning has faded from everyday use. When you see it in modern Japanese, it usually functions simply as a proper noun rather than conveying the compound meaning of its parts.